Telling the Truth about Social Security’s Funding isn’t “Nasty” it’s Just Reality

OK…we’re just 18 days until election day and the final debate has come and gone. Thank goodness.

While Social Security and Medicare finally got their 90 seconds of fame last night, as expected, the question was framed exactly how Washington’s well-funded fiscal hawks had hoped — America can’t afford “entitlements,” (wrong), the programs are the biggest drivers of our debt (nope), are going bankrupt (actually no, they’re not) and then the real heart of the question: How are you going to cut benefits?

Unfortunately, this approach guaranteed there would be no real conversation about the benefits millions of seniors depend on. Here is NCPSSM’s President/CEO, Max Richtman’s reaction:

“Rather than focusing on the candidate’s plans for improving Social Security and Medicare’s long-term solvency, strengthening benefits and tackling the retirement crisis looming for millions of workers and retirees, last night’s viewers were stuck with the same old crisis calls that ‘entitlements’ are bankrupting America. No doubt, Washington’s billion dollar anti-Social Security lobby was happy to have some life pumped back into their middle-class killing campaign to cut benefits; however, America’s voters deserved far more from this debate.

Make no mistake about it, the choices between Clinton and Trump couldn’t be starker. Donald Trump’s Social Security shape-shifting leaves voters with no idea of how he plans to improve solvency and benefit adequacy. Doing nothing isn’t an option. Contrary to his insult last night, hearing Hillary Clinton tell the truth about how to strengthen Social Security’s funding isn’t ‘nasty,’ it’s just reality. As long as America’s wealthiest are allowed to avoid paying their share of payroll taxes, Social Security suffers. Period. While Clinton supports expanding benefits, Trump’s only policy promise last night was to repeal Obamacare. That cuts years from Medicare’s solvency and billions in preventive care, prescription drugs and cost-reducing benefits to seniors.

Most Americans know that our nation faces a retirement crisis. Our economy depends on strong Social Security and Medicare programs and improving benefits is vital to keeping millions from poverty. Too bad voters weren’t allowed to hear any of that debated last night.”…Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO